Swingletree.



A. J. JEFFERSON.

SWINGLETRBE. APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 6, 1907.

A PATENTED APR., 14, l1908.v

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J. JEFFERSON, OF LODI, CALIFORNIA.

SWINGLETREE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. JEFFERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lodi, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Swingletrees; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in swingle trees used on anymanner of vehicle, my object being to produce such a swingle tree as maybe used on plows, harrows or the like, in vineyards or similar placeswithout danger of knocking off young and tender shoots from the vines,or injuring them otherwise, as is now the case with straight swingletrees, the ends of which move with the movement of the horse and strikeand injure lthe vines, as it is impossible for the operator of theimplement to guide his implement and swingle tree at the saine time.This object I accomplish by means of a curved substantially U-shapedswingle tree whereby the sides are smooth and extend upward toward thehorse, thus clearing the vines and presenting only a narrow and smoothsurface near the said vines, whereby is avoided the danger of damage asdescribed above.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved swingle tree. Fig. 2 is afront end view of thefsame. Fig. 3 is a sectional viewon a line a: ofFig 1.

Referring more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings 1 designates the swingle tree proper which is constructed offlat metal formed into a substantially U-shape as shown in the drawings.The ends of such U-shaped swingle tree bend gradually into verticalrings 2. At the base of said swingle tree the metal is formedgraduallyinto an embossed or enlarged portion 3,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 6, 1907.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Serial No. 372,267.

such enlargement being substantially equal on all sides, saidenlargement being provided With a central orifice to receive the pin ofa clevis or other joining means. Disposed inthe rings 2 are links 4 and5 are other links secured to the links 4 by intermediate swivels 6.

In practice the links 5 are hooked into the tug hooks, which lifts theends of the swingle tree up near the horse and high enough to clear thevines, the part of the swingle tree which is near the vines being narrowand having smooth, curving sides and no abrupt ends to knock into orbreak the vines.

The'embossment or enlargement 3 is disposed at a point where thegreatest bearing strain comes on the swingle tree and where the samewould be the most likely to bend or wear, thus lessening the danger ofsuch Wear or bending.

The swivels 6 permit of a freedom of motion to the link 5 but may bedispensed with if desired.

Thus it will be seen I have produced a swingle tree which substantiallyfulfils all the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferredconstruction of my device, in practice many small deviations from suchdetail may be resorted to at will without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is In a device of the characterdescribed a swingle tree formed of flat metal into a substantialU-shape, the outer ends of said swingle tree being turned gradually intovertical rings, the inner end of such swin le tree being swaged orswelled outward on a sides, forming an einbossment, an orifice throughsuch embossment, and tug connections in said rings, as described. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT J. JEFFERSON.

IVitnesses PERCY S. WEBSTER, FRANK H. CARTER.

